Chapter 17 - The Morning After
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The next morning, the fashion world erupted.
Vanguard put my alleyway runway on their digital cover with the headline: “THE $1.2 MILLION ALLEYWAY REVOLUTION: HOW KATE SULLIVAN BEAT THE LA ELITE.”
By noon, the live stream had racked up over five million views. My website crashed three times due to pre-order traffic for the midnight silk suit dress.
Madame Laurent arrived at my studio at nine o'clock sharp with a team of lawyers and corporate executives. We spent three hours going over the contract terms. Luxe Global was funding my production run, providing me with an advanced line of credit, and securing a flagship boutique space for my brand in SoHo, New York.
When the final signature was placed on the page, I popped a bottle of real champagne and poured glasses for everyone in the room.
My phone rang. It was an unblocked number.
I answered it, stepping away into the quiet cutting room. “Hello?”
“Kate?” Brad’s voice sounded small, distant, and cracked with emotion.
“Brad,” I said calmly.
“I’m at my father’s office,” he whispered. “He’s furious. He’s taking me off the main investment portfolio. He said I handled everything terribly.”
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I listened in silence, feeling no joy in his downfall, but no sadness either. Just detachment.
“I resigned twenty minutes ago, Kate,” Brad added, his voice shaking. “I’m leaving the firm.”
